Results 5,421-5,440 of 9,820 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad Deputy Nolan agrees with the Fianna Fáil position on the ex quotaguidance counsellors. We are glad to have that support. It is one of the items in the confidence and supply agreement we have with the Government. My question raises another issue that is in the confidence and supply agreement, namely, the restoration of postgraduate grants. I have seen that at first hand where...

Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister for that answer. It is a key priority for us. Almost all postgraduate maintenance grants, with the exception of the special grant, as the Minister mentioned, were removed in 2012. The special grant is for the extreme low end of the income spectrum and those very much most in need, but there is a huge number of other people who cannot afford to pursue postgraduate...

Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: We certainly look forward to sitting back on budget votes, with substantial progress having been made on some of these items. In fairness to the Minister, he recognises that the confidence and supply agreement is the fundamental basis on which the Government operates and that the policy options we have negotiated with the Government, and the Fine Gael Party in particular, need to show signs...

Priority Questions: Third Level Institutions (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent decline experienced by Irish universities in international rankings; his plans to improve and enhance Irish third-level institutions; and his further plans to deal with the funding issues in the third-level sector. [28473/16]

Priority Questions: Third Level Institutions (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad the Taoiseach is here to hear this question because the issue of third-level funding that I raise in this question is a key priority. People are saying it is a Fianna Fáil priority but it is a national priority that we have adequately-funded third-level colleges. I would like the Minister for Education and Skills to set out how he proposes to react to what has been happening...

Priority Questions: Third Level Institutions (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister is in complete and utter denial about the crisis facing our third-level sector. That is obvious from his reply but it is also obvious in the action plan on education that he published where there are two lines devoted to the crisis in third-level funding and the Cassells report. When that plan was published, one of the first things I looked for was what it said about third...

Priority Questions: Third Level Institutions (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The content of the Cassells report will not be discussed in this Chamber but, rather, in the committee rooms. That process will take some time. I compliment Mr. Cassells and his committee on the work they did. When he spoke to the Fianna Fáil Party he advised us to take our time with this and he was right. We cannot, however, take our time in recognising the immediate funding crisis....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: He has just decided it.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Disputes (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on progress being made to resolve the ongoing industrial relations issues between his Department and the ASTI union; and if he will ensure that no child will be deducted marks by the State Examinations Commission as a result of these issues. [28286/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the objectives and progress of the review of school transport; and when he expects to finalise the objectives of the review. [28289/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Global Rankings (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the recent decline experienced by Irish universities in international rankings; and the way he plans to restore to proper levels the teaching staff ratios and to enhance the reputation abroad of Irish third-level institutions. [28287/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore the ex-quota provision of guidance counselling to secondary schools; his views on the benefits to pupils of ex-quota guidance, including advice and direction on third-level options and career, but also importantly, the necessity of ex-quota guidance in view of the serious issues of youth mental health; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the precise cost of the school transport scheme in each of the years 2012 to 2015, inclusive. [28209/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Expenditure (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of returning to previous catchment boundaries in the school transport scheme before changes introduced in 2012. [28210/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Review (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the State aid complaint made in relation to the school transport service. [28211/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if figures are available for repeated or semi-permanent non-use of school transport tickets; and his views on whether this is an issue which needs to be addressed. [28212/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has conducted a particular study of the demographic needs of the east Meath, north Dublin and south Louth region to establish the necessity of new secondary schooling; and when it is envisaged that new secondary schools will be required to be provided in the region. [28314/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a technical assessment will take place on a school building (details supplied). [28320/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Care of the Elderly (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 403. To ask the Minister for Health if a person caring full time on a live-in basis in the carer's home for one or two infirm clients needs to register as a nursing home. [28280/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Motorised Transport Grant Closure (4 Oct 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 462. To ask the Minister for Health when he envisages an alternative to the motorised transport grant, which was discontinued in 2013, will commence and begin accepting applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28572/16]